May 2010: Given the increased interest in
this topic, we have added (at the bottom of the page) some useful standard notes
from the Commons Library...but we haven't - yet - changed the text of this guide
below which was written in July 2009. Actually, it provides an interesting
historical context for the current debate!

Added: 3 July 2009

We should be
prepared to propose change only if there is a broad consensus in the country
that it would strengthen our democracy and our politics by improving the
effectiveness and legitimacy of both Government and Parliament and by
enhancing the level and quality of representation and public engagement.

Here
at W4MP, we've spent the last month or two doing our very best to keep up with
the rollercoaster of MPs' expense claim stories. As June drew to a close
and the expenses were finally published, we've had time to sit back, enjoy the
heatwave and start taking a long hard look at what the events of the past few
months actually means for British politics. There seems to be broad consensus
among all parties that fundamental reform is needed, but exactly what that
should entail is up for discussion. Five major constitutional issues have
been flagged up by the Prime Minister: House of Lords Reform, the possibility of
a written constitution, the prospect of further devolution and greater power for
local government, improving voter turnout and, finally, the tricky issue of
electoral reform - loved by some and loathed by others.

Writing in The Times in
May, Alan Johnson indicated that the government's response to the public mood
must be 'a determination to ensure that the public can participate in a
root-and-branch examination of our political system'. For the now-Home Secretary,
electoral reform should be a central part of the response, and he gives an
example of offering voters a choice between sticking with the current system of
First Past the Post, or embracing Alternative Vote Plus, where votes are cast
for both a constituency representative and a political party. The Lib Dems are
proportional representation's number one fans, with Nick Clegg recently
advocating a Single Transferable Vote system as used in Ireland. The
Conservatives remain staunchly opposed to PR of any type, concerned it will
result in weak governments and in fact divert power away from the public.

As the Prime Minister mentioned in his June statement, reform of the system is
considered so significant that any proposed change would almost certainly need
such a referendum. Commentators claim that this could be done at a General
Election, when voters would be asked not only who they wish to represent them,
but how they wish the entire system to work in future. Although here at W4MP
we're giving ourselves a headache figuring out what voting system a referendum
would use...

Useful guides

For more information on the different voting systems and which countries use
them, take a look at the online guides below: